Automobile spring control and repair device



Jan. 12 1926.. 1,539,150

. J- E. STEVENS AUTOMOBILE SPRING CONTROL AND REPAIR DEVICE Filed August 25 1924. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,150

J. E. STEVENS AUTOMOBILE SPRING CONTROL AND REPAIR DEVICE Filed August 25 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6.

Fig .10 I 29 Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES JESSE E. STEVENS, OF LEBANON, INDIANA.

AUTOMOBILE SPRING CONTROL AND REPAIR DEVICE.

Application filed August 25, 1924. Serial No. 734,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssE E. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Lebanon, in the county of Boone and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Spring Control and Repair Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring controlling and repairing devices especially adapted for use on springs of automobiles, and the said invention has for an object the provision of novel meansfor modifying the action of springs on automobiles, in retarding their rebound, in preventing fractures of springs due to such rebound, while at the same time easing the riding conditions of such springs in order that the device will serve as a snubber or shock absorber.

It is an object of this invention to produce a device of the character indicated which can be installed on springs now in common use, without changing or modifying the construction of such springs, and it is the purpose of this invention to produce a control of the character indicated, having means for anchoring it at the edges of said springs, whereas the control operates in contact with the main leaf or leaves of thesaid spring.

It is an object of this invention furthermore to produce a spring controlling device which will serve as a spring strengthening adjunct, and it may furthermore be employed to brace the leaves of springs that have been fractured.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed. In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a view in side elevation of a device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of some of the elements embodied in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view through the spring and invention on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4t illustrates a view in elevation of a slightly modified control;

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional View of one of the clamps;

Figure 6 illustrates a view in elevation showing one type of the invention applied to a spring;

Figure 7 illustrates a similar View show-. ing another type of the invention applied to a spring;

Figure 8 illustrates a sectional View thereof;

Figure 9 illustrates an enlarged view of the joint between sections of the reinforcing device; and

Figure 10 illustrates a similar view with parts in different positions of adjustment.

In these drawings the device is shown as applied. to a leaf 11 of the spring and this device is intended for use on short springs or on springs which have to be braced or repaired remote from the axle or clips by which the spring is secured to the automobile. In this embodiment of the invention three sets of clamping plates are preferably used.

The control and repair device of this invention comprises a main plate 18- which is curved or offset between its ends, whereas the remaining portion of the said plate is intended to lie in contact with the surface of the leaf 11. The offset portion of the plate 13 produces a clearance for the reception of bolts l7 which extend between the plate 13 and the leaf 11 and through the clamping plate 16 for binding the clamping plates into engagement with the edges of the leaf 11 of the spring and the said plate 18. The ends of the plate 13 have angularly disposed terminals 16 which are hinge members coacting with the curved ends 24 of the plates 25 which are retained in associated relation to the leaf llof the spring by bolts l7 similar to those employed in connection with the central clamp. Each plate 25 has its endfZT remote from the hinge 24E curved to partially embrace one of the bolts 17 and when the parts are assembled, this curved end serves to prevent the clamping plate 16- from. moving with respect to the leaf 11 of the spring.

The device is to be used where there is no clip for holding the parts in engagement with the leaves of the springs, whereas the form shown in Fig. 1 is employed in connection with clips and fastenings by which the springs are secured to the automobile.

The clamping plates 16 have angularly disposed edges or flanges 84 which are preterably shaped with rather sharp edges which will wedge between the leaves of springs or embrace the edges of plates to aid in preventing movement of the said clamping plates. The exact shape of the wedges may be changed to suit particular requirements, but in Fig. 3:the lower edges of the clamping plates are shown as wedged bet-veen the leaves of the springs and as embracing the upper edge of the plate 113, it sbein-gunderstood that thisview is taken onthesection line H of Fig. 11.

In the modification shown in Fig. at, the plate 28 is. intended to be used in connection with clips by which springs aresecured to axles or the like, and the said plate 28 has ,ends 29 which are intended to form hinge connections with the ends 30 of the plates 31. The clampingplates 32am the same-.in;this fol-mas the clamping plates 16 or 16 and they are held in engagement with the plates 32;.and in engagement with theleaf-of a spring when the device is installed on a spring by.the bolts 33.

It will vbe obvious :from an inspectionof the drawing and from the foregoing description that the elements maybe of any appropriatelength or width and, of course, thelength or width will be different to adapt it for use in connection with springs of .difierentzmakes of automobiles, but one skilled in the art will, it is thought, understand how the device will operate in conjunction with-springs and they will appreciatealsothat it will serve as a strengthening device jfor the-spring to-modify .itsaction and retard its movement under strain, anduthey willoalso understand how the device could be used for bridging fractures,

insprings.to-strengthen the sameand constitute an emergency repairing device, so that the inventor does not wish to be limited with respect tothe proportions. It will also be zllIlClGlStOOCl, as stated, that the wedging effect of the angularly disposed edge 34 of the platesomay be increased or diminished according to thellength ofthe flange and the taperof the-surfaces thereof.

The illustration shown in Fig. 7 shows the invention applied toua half spring, and preferably when it is so employed, it" should beapplied close to thatend of the spring which is connectedto-theshackle, although, otcou'rse, its relation to the end of the spring would depend uponthe length of the spring, its strength, etc.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is illustrated the action, of the invention when the springs are flexed. This illustration is somewhat exaggerated, but it will be seen that when SGCULOHS of the device oscillate with relation to each other, the interlocked or interengaging parts of the plates pull against each other, asin Fig. 9, or thrust-eachl other, as in Fig. 10, according to the direction of movement of the spring.

By referring to "Figs. 6 and 7, the action of the. jointsor interengaging parts of the means for securing .the elements to the spring.

:2, In a control and. repair device for springs of automobiles, a relatively .stifi' plate adapted ,to engage the-surface of a spring, an elementzengaging the spring at each end and interlocking therewith and oscillatable one. on the .other, clamping plates engaging thee'dges ofitheelements and the edges otthespring,.,and meansfor drawing the clamping-plates, intdengagement with the elements andspring'.

3,111 a control and :repair device for springs, a .platehaving shouldersat its ends,

coacting plates, ,each of which interlocks:

with one ofthe -1 shoulders of, the :first :mentioned plate, and clamping-elements engag- 1I1g'tl16 edges oii-the coacting plates and a spring leaf .for retainingthe controlling device-on the'spring.

4. In a-spring controland repair device, a plate adapted to lie on the surface of the leai of a spring, plates each having=a substantially interhooked hinged connection at their ends with the ends 'otthefirst .-mentioned plate, clampingzplates for securing the .first mentioned plate to the-spring,-and

clamping plates adapted to embrace the edges of the second mentioned platesand a spring leaf for securing the said second mentioned plates ;to the Spring.

5. In aspring control andrepair device, a plate adapted to engage the ,leaf of a spring, end plates having interengaging ends forming hinged connection with the ends otthe first mentioned plate, and clamps embracing vthe edges of the second mentioned plates .andadapted to embrace the leaf of a-spring .for retaining the-,partsdn assembled relation .to. the leaf of a spring.

JESSE E. 

